Exploring the World of Shūichi Shigeno: A Conversation with the Iconic Manga Creator
On December 23, the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) Mate published an insightful interview with renowned automotive racing manga artist, Shūichi Shigeno. In this engaging discussion, he reflected on his extensive career and his deep-seated connection to automobiles.
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A Journey Through His Works
The conversation primarily revolved around Shigeno’s various creations and how cars play a pivotal role in them. Towards the conclusion of the interview, Akemi Saito posed a thought-provoking question about what themes he might explore after wrapping up his current series, MF Ghost.
Shigeno shared that following lengthy projects like Baribari Densetsu and Initial D, he ventured into shorter narratives that diverged from his usual focus on vehicles. He mentioned experimenting with genres such as romance and baseball—stories that did not resonate as strongly with audiences but served as a creative reset for him.
New Horizons: Farming Manga?
Intriguingly, when asked about future projects, Shigeno expressed interest in crafting a farming-themed manga. He described it as centering on a man in his thirties whose aspirations of becoming a manga artist have been thwarted. Returning to his family’s farm in disappointment leads him to discover unexpected hope amid adversity—a narrative rich with potential for emotional depth.
He humorously noted that every time he concludes one series, he declares to himself that he’s done with car-related stories forever. Yet he acknowledges the affection fans have for these tales and reassures them that while there may not be direct sequels to MF Ghost, its universe will continue to thrive in some form.
The Future of MF Ghost
As MF Ghost approaches its climax—set for January 10—the anticipation among fans is palpable. The series has captivated readers since its launch by Kodansha’s Young Magazine back in September 2017 and is now reaching critical moments within its storyline.
In addition to being serialized in print, MF Ghost has also made waves through its anime adaptation which premiered on October 1st across several platforms including Tokyo MX and BS11 channels. Crunchyroll has been streaming episodes concurrently with their Japanese broadcast—a testament to the growing global interest surrounding this franchise.
Moreover, viewers can look forward to more content; plans are already underway for a third season of the anime following successful runs earlier this year.
Conclusion
For those eager to delve deeper into this fascinating dialogue between tradition and innovation within manga culture—and particularly how it intertwines with automotive passion—the full interview can be accessed through JAF Mate Online’s official website
